What should I expect gas and electric?

[gerrrti]

Four bedroom house, two bathroom, two adults and one dc.

I read somewhere it could be 500 a month total? Surely not? We will basically not be able to live.

I do have a credit card so I will just have to use that which has made me a bit calmer. I’ve always been able to pay for things so this is a taste of the other side. It’s tough isn’t it…

I keep telling myself “I will only have to pay for what I use.”
It’s going to be tough.

There are probably a lot of cut back you can make in other areas if you have never had to worry about the bill.

The shock of the prices now is horrid, but everything will feel better if you make a plan. What luxuries can be cut back on? What usage can be cut back on? Where can some extra work be picked up to maximise income.

With a plan, everything will seem more manageable.

But you really need to get a handle on your usage so you can budget better.

The prices are going to remain high, and get higher, for a while yet. Credit card isn't a long term solution.

Well if you're paying around £2000 pa now you must be using substantially more energy than average.

We are average users (or slightly below) and paid just over £1000 in 2021. So you are using twice as much as us roughly.

We have wriggle room to turn down our consumption, so you must be able to massively cut yours down?

•Turn CH thermostat down to 19 in winter.
•Don't use tumble dryer
•Only use washing machine twice a week
•Shower time down to 4 minutes
•cut down drastically on oven cooking

All these will reduce your useage and your costs

Ignore the £3800 or whatever figure in the news. That's just an average sum for a 'typical' household. You will pay more or less depending on usage.

What do you pay now? Do you have any bills from your energy provider?